Natural Deodorant: Cream Recipe

Stay fresh all day long with this homemade deodorant cream for your underarms. Made with natural ingredients like baking soda and essential oils, this deodorant is long-lasting and effective.

We have been using natural deodorant for years, but we am always shocked at how pricey store-bought deodorants are! Once we started making our own, we never looked back. Homemade deodorant is effective, natural, and a great way to save money.

With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a steady stock of natural homemade deodorant to keep body odor at bay. We love choosing the ingredients that go into our deodorant and cutting down on our budget!

How to Make Deodorant Cream

What You’ll Need

1 oz shea butter: It’s a great base for the deodorant cream, and shea butter will moisturize and nourish your underarms.
1 oz coconut oil: Be sure to use regular unrefined coconut oil, not fractionated coconut oil.
0.20 oz sunflower oil: Adding a liquid oil to the mixture creates the perfect creamy texture. You can use any liquid carrier oil, such as almond or grapeseed oil.
0.75 oz baking soda: We use baking soda in many of our recipes because it’s so powerful for fighting odors. If you have sensitive skin and find it irritating, we have a recipe for homemade deodorant without baking soda.
0.25 oz cornstarch: Cornstarch helps the deodorant wick away sweat and keeps it from feeling heavy or oily. Feel free to use arrowroot powder instead.
20-30 drops of essential oils: Make your own blend or try one of the recommended blends below!
Deodorant container: You can use any small heavy-duty plastic or glass jar.

Instructions

Step 1. In a double boiler or a heat-resistant bowl set over simmering water, melt the shea butter, coconut oil and sunflower oil together.

Pouring sunflower oil into a double boiler with the butters and coconut oil to make deodorant cream.

Step 2. Remove the mixture from the heat and let cool slightly.

Stirring the mixture in the double boiler as it melts together.

Step 3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the baking soda and cornstarch.

Step 4. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the melted oils.

Adding the cornstarch and baking soda to a bowl with melted oils and stirring well.

Step 5. Next, use an immersion blender to combine the ingredients thoroughly. (This will take about 30 seconds.)

Using an immersion blender to mix the deodorant cream ingredients well.

Step 6. Add 20 drops of your chosen essential oils. (See pro tip below.)

Adding drops of Jasmine essential oil to the bowl with deodorant cream ingredients.

Step 7. Transfer the mixture to the fridge to set up. As it cools, mix it with an immersion blender every 10 minutes.

Step 8. Once it starts to solidify, scoop the deodorant cream into a clean, dry container.

Scooping the set deodorant cream into an amber container.

Step 9. Let the deodorant solidify for several hours at room temperature, or refrigerate for a faster set.

Pro Tip: Start with 20 drops of essential oil and add more (up to 10 more drops) for a stronger scent. Be cautious, as some essential oils can irritate the skin. It’s always best to do a patch test on your inner arm before applying it to your underarms.

How to Apply Cream Deodorant

Apply the deodorant to clean, dry armpits by rubbing a pea-sized amount onto the skin. Use more as needed, but be careful as a little goes a long way. It’s a good idea to allow the cream to soak into your skin for a few minutes before getting dressed. Once your homemade cream deodorant is set, you can start using it!

Expert Tips

The consistency of your deodorant will depend on temperature. If you live in a warmer climate it will be more liquid, and if you live in a cooler climate, it will set a bit harder. You can adjust the amount of sunflower oil to change the consistency of your deodorant depending on the season and where you live.
When choosing your essential oils, opt for those known for their deodorizing properties, such as tea tree, lavender, or lemongrass. Keep reading for some great deodorizing blends.

An amber jar of homemade deodorant cream sitting on a wooden board.

Essential Oil Blends for Homemade Deodorant

Adding essential oils to your homemade natural deodorant is a great way to add a nice scent while also boosting the odor-fighting power of your product.

You can get creative by making your own blend or opting for one of our suggested blends. ‘Floral Fresh’ is our favorite and the blend we use for this recipe!

Be cautious, as some essential oils can irritate the skin. It’s always best to do a patch test on your inner arm before applying the deodorant to your underarms. If you will be applying this deodorant to exposed skin, avoid photosensitive oils such as orange, lemon, or bergamot.

Floral Fresh

11 drops Jasmine
7 drops Tea Tree
7 drops Juniper berry

Soothing Citrus

9 drops Lemongrass
9 drops Rosemary
7 drops Clary Sage

Lavender Fields

11 drops Lavender
7 drops Geranium
7 drops Ylang-Ylang

Cool Forest

10 drops Sandalwood
10 drops Cedarwood
5 drops Patchouli

Does Natural Deodorant Work?

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive about homemade deodorant is, “Does it work?” It’s a fair question; no one wants to find themselves stinking halfway through the day.

We've tried a lot of natural deodorants and made many myself and we love them! We use natural deodorant daily and find it to work very well.

Natural deodorant is effective, but it takes time for the body to adjust. Be patient as you go through the adjustment period. We highly recommend doing an armpit detox and exfoliating the underarms occasionally as you transition to natural deodorants.

That’s just the way it is when we choose to avoid harsh chemicals. While we don’t mind a mild deodorant, our husband sweats a lot in the summer, so he uses a stronger conventional deodorant when he needs it. That said, natural deodorants are not as effective as conventional deodorants.

Keep in mind this recipe is for a deodorant cream, not an antiperspirant. Deodorant creams neutralize odor-causing bacteria, while antiperspirants block sweat.

Related DIY Recipes You’ll Love

We hope you enjoy this homemade deodorant cream! If you love it, we'd love for you to come back and give it 5 stars!

5 from 1 vote

Deodorant Cream Recipe

By the studio Ascher Prep: 5 minutes minsActive: 15 minutes minsAdditional time: 20 minutes minsTotal: 40 minutes mins Yield: 1 Jar

SaveSaved Pin Print Stay fresh all day long with this homemade deodorant cream for your underarms. Made with natural ingredients like baking soda and essential oils, this deodorant is long-lasting and effective.

Equipment

Double boiler or a pot with a heat-resistant bowl
immersion blender
Small glass or heavy-duty plastic jar

Ingredients

1 oz shea butter
1 oz coconut oil
0.20 oz sunflower oil
0.75 oz baking soda
0.25 oz cornstarch
20-30 drops of essential oils, see blends above

Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

In a double boiler or a heat-resistant bowl set over simmering water, melt the shea butter, coconut oil and sunflower oil together.
Remove the mixture from the heat and let cool slightly.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the baking soda and cornstarch.
Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the melted oils.
Next, use an immersion blender to combine the ingredients thoroughly. (This will take about 30 seconds.)
Add 20 drops of your chosen essential oils and mix well. (See pro tip below.)
Transfer the mixture to the fridge to set up. As it cools, mix it with an immersion blender every 10 minutes.
Once it starts to solidify, scoop the deodorant cream into a clean, dry container.
Let the deodorant solidify for several hours at room temperature, or refrigerate for a faster set.

Video

Notes

We've included step-by-step images in the post above for visual guidance. If you would rather watch, we've included the complete step-by-step video tutorial here in the recipe card!

Start with 20 drops of essential oil and add more (up to 10 more drops) for a stronger scent. Be cautious, as some essential oils can irritate the skin. It’s always best to do a patch test on your inner arm before applying it to your underarms.
The consistency of your deodorant will depend on temperature. If you live in a warmer climate it will be more liquid, and if you live in a cooler climate, it will set a bit harder. You can adjust the amount of sunflower oil to change the consistency of your deodorant depending on where you live and the season.
Scroll up to the post for some great essential oil blend ideas.

Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse! This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.